Automatic fruit labeler

Abstract

The device disclosed herein comprises a machine adapted to apply labels to round or oval fruit such as oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, lemons, apples, etc. This machine has chutes down which the fruit rolls to where a label is positioned with the adhesive side of the label facing upward so as to come in contact with the fruit as it rolls over that area. An electric eye is aimed at the area where the label is positioned to come in contact with the fruit so that when the label is removed by the fruit, the electric eye activates a device which moves the belt on which a series of labels are positioned so that the next label is moved to this fruit-contacting area. This belt is adapted to make a sharp upward reverse turn so as to detach itself from the label as the label reaches the fruit-contacting area. Underneath this fruit-contacting area there is a conduit which has openings or ports at this area through which a vacuum is applied to hold the label in position until the fruit has rolled over and picked up the label.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. In a machine for applying labels to individual pieces of round or oval fruit from a movable belt carrying a supply of said labels spaced individually from each other, the improvement comprising the combination of: a. a bar so shaped and positioned as to provide a sharp reversal in path as said movable belt passes against the underside and then the upper side of said bar so as to provide a sharp reversal of path of said belt thereby effecting extension and peeling of said individual labels with an adhesive side facing upward;   b. a conduit positioned adjacent to said bar where said sharp reversal in path of said movable belt is effected, said conduit being positioned so that as said individual labels are extended from said belt they will be extended and moved to a position over a certain upper area of said conduit, said conduit having in said area over which said labels are individually positioned a plurality of openings comprising one opening large enough for a beam of light to pass through and said opening being surrounded by a number of smaller openings, and said conduit having a still larger opening in the lower region of said conduit and positioned vertically under said large opening in the upper region of said conduit, said conduit being sufficiently otherwise sealed so as to create a sucking of air into said upper area openings when a reduced pressure is created in said conduit;   c. an electric eye component extending upward through said opening in the lower portion of said conduit, being tightly sealed against the edge of said opening, and adapted to sense the absence of a label positioned above said upper area openings of said conduit and thereby to actuate movement of said movable belt to position a label over said upper area openings; and   d. A means for creating a reduced pressure in said conduit.   
     
     
       2. The machine of claim 1, in which the area of said conduit in which said upper area openings are presented is a flat area. 
     
     
       3. The machine of claim 2, in which said reduced pressure creating means is a blower directed to exhaust air from said conduit. 
     
     
       4. The machine of claim 3, in which said large opening in the upper area of said conduit is about 3/16 inch in diameter and said smaller openings in said upper area are about 1/16 inch in diameter.